Categories

President’s Message

Glad the sun is finally out and the weather is starting too corporate. I hope you are all doing great and life is treating you fabulous.

Amy Francis who is our dog trainer for Heber Valley Animal Services and is a certified obedience trainer and the owner of Paws Forward Dog Training approached me last month about some concerns she is facing while out walking her own dog and training dogs with clients of hers.

Amy said that there are a lot of dogs that are not leashed when she is out working with clients or just out for a nice walk or mountain bike ride. Amy said that she has dealt with dogs every time she goes out and that the owners just don’t care or will get right down rude with her and tell her that their dogs have always been able to run and that is just the way it is here!

Amy wanted to discuss a new thing that is taking place around the nation; Amy asked if I have heard of the Yellow Dog Project. Amy proceeded to tell me a little about the project telling me that any dog that is shy, just had surgery, just adopted from a shelter or has been abused and is wearing a yellow ribbon or yellow bandanna means you should keep your distance and not approach the dog.

I had Amy bring this idea to the Heber Valley Animal Services Board Meeting; the board consists of the Chief of Police, Wasatch County Sherriff, Heber City Council Member, Wasatch County Council Member and Midway City Council Member along with Cathy Boruch with Paws for Life Rescue. All the members of the board jumped onboard with the idea and have given Amy their blessing and have asked her to put on a class monthly for the citizens to attend and become familiar with the program along with getting into the schools and sitting at trail heads and educate the public.

As of today Amy has been out asking for donations and sponsors to help purchase signs, bandannas and other items needed to get this project up and going. Amy has already received $800.00 in donation and sponsors.

If you would like to find out more on the Yellow Dog Project and start something like this in your community please go google YELLOW DOG PROJECT.

The Yellow Dog Project

The yellow dog project is a global movement for owners of dogs that need space. It hope to educate the public and dog owners to identify dogs needing space, promote appropriate contact of dogs and assist dog parents to identify their dog as needing space.

Yellow dogs are dogs who need space-they are not necessarily aggressive dogs abut more often are dog who have issues of fear; pain from recent surgery; are a rescue or shelter dog who has not yet had sufficient training or mastered obedience; are in training for work or service; are in service; or other reasons specific to the dog. Here is a list of what a yellow dog is not.

Often, you will be asked what The Yellow Dog Project stands for, and we have compiled

a list of exactly what it is NOT. It is very important to remember the following information

while promoting The Yellow Dog Project in your community:

TYDP is NOT an excuse to avoid proper training

Wearing a yellow ribbon is a way to identify that a dog is in training and working on

“space issues.” This may be a temporary thing, such as recovering from surgery, or a

long-term, such as abused or rehabilitating shelter dogs. Whatever the reason, it is NOT

an excuse! If you have an outright aggressive dog, you must seek proper training from a

qualified professional. This organization promotes the awareness of dogs who need

space, but it is not an excuse for lack of training.

TYDP is NOT an admittance of guilt or a confession

Some people know they have a dog with space issues, but see it as an embarrassment

or a confession. They do not want to tell the world “stay away from my dog.” Wearing a

yellow ribbon is NOT an admission of guilt. Dogs can have space issues for a variety of

reasons and you are not the only person with a yellow dog. There are most likely many

people in your community who are “hiding” their pet issues rather than working on them.

Be proud of your furry family member and the work you are putting into him/her!

TYDP is NOT a waiver of responsibility

By having your dog wear a yellow ribbon, you are identifying that your friend has space

issues. This does not mean that people will no longer approach you, or that it is now ok to

take your pet to a highly populated area (such as a dog park where many dogs are off

leash). Wearing a ribbon identifies that you have a dog in training for their space troubles

and you are taking responsibility for your pets actions. Putting your dog in a highly stressful

scenario when you are working through these issues is asking for trouble. Awareness for

TYDP and what it stands for is being promoted but it is still very new. Not all people know

what it means. You cannot assume that you can let your guard down as soon as you put

a yellow ribbon on.

The Yellow Dog Project

The yellow dog project seeks to educate appropriate way to approach or make contact with a dog with permission of a dog owner only, whether or not a dog is a “yellow dog”. They also seek to promote the use of yellow ribbons to identity yellow dogs needing extra space.

As a not for profit organization, all of the monies raised/donated are used to buy more material for ribbons, t-shirts for representatives, and posters for display.

The yellow dog project encourages people to find their local positive reinforcement trainer and look for programs to help their pets. From Grisha Stewarts “Behavior Adjustment Training” to fearfuldogs.com; Victoria Stillwell to Karen Pryor; Ian Dunbar to Dr. Sophia Yin; and beyond-The yellow dog project encourages all forms of positive training to help yellow dogs.